Recommended Posts

We know that the current Volkswagen Beetle will soon be heading off to the great parking lot in the sky sometime next year, and that a direct replacement will not happen. But there is talk about bringing back the Beetle as an electric vehicle.

Volkswagen's design chief Klaus Bischoff revealed to Autocar that he has already made a sketch of a possible Beetle EV, but it will be some time before the automaker makes a decision whether to move forward with this or not. Some of this comes down Volkswagen wanting to get the bigger-selling electric cars into production first (see I.D. hatchback and I.D. Crozz) before moving onto the 'emotional' models.

“Our duty is to get the volume [ID] models under way. These cars have super-complicated technology and if you do too much, it’s an overload. Then we [can] move into more exotic cars and the field of emotion,” said Bischoff.

If Volkswagen does give the green light for a Beetle EV, what could it look like? According to Autocar, the model could grow in size and get two extra doors.

“The Beetle of today is a very attractive two-door coupé or convertible, but it is limited in the amount of cars that it can sell because it’s a niche. If you look at MEB, the shortest wheelbase [possible] is the ID [hatchback]. If you took that and did the Beetle on it, you have plenty of room so there’s no compromise in functionality any more. So it could be a very attractive car,” explained Bischoff.

We know there is a fan of an electric Beetle, Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess.

“We could [build an electric Beetle], because it is rear-wheel drive, no grille. If we wanted to do a Beetle electrically, it would be much better than the current car. Much closer to the history of the Beetle," Diess told Car and Driver back in October.

Share on other sites

Sure, why not? It's already a niche vehicle. If they can put enough batteries in it to give it a good range, it should do decent as an EV. Plus, it's a car people already love even if not a lot are sold. Also, making it RWD with the batteries up front would make for an interesting profile.. less overhang in front of the front wheels/

Sure, why not? It's already a niche vehicle. If they can put enough batteries in it to give it a good range, it should do decent as an EV. Plus, it's a car people already love even if not a lot are sold. Also, making it RWD with the batteries up front would make for an interesting profile.. less overhang in front of the front wheels/

Beyond stupid. It will sell even worse than now. And LOL on the comment in the article about "volume" in relation to anything electric.

Like it or not, platform volume is easier to get with EVs than it is with petroleum-burning ones. Remember GM's skateboard concept? That was to an extreme, but the idea is right, and we're already heading in that direction. Tesla only makes two power units and they can drop in and out of a car at the repair shop faster than any gas car. I think it is under an hour.

As EVs get closer to the GM Skateboard concept, the number of body variants available will only increase. Eventually, it will be as simple as plopping a different body on the right wheelbase chassis. That's where the volume will come from.

Like it or not, platform volume is easier to get with EVs than it is with petroleum-burning ones. Remember GM's skateboard concept? That was to an extreme, but the idea is right, and we're already heading in that direction. Tesla only makes two power units and they can drop in and out of a car at the repair shop faster than any gas car. I think it is under an hour.

As EVs get closer to the GM Skateboard concept, the number of body variants available will only increase. Eventually, it will be as simple as plopping a different body on the right wheelbase chassis. That's where the volume will come from.

Totally agree, a blog from a Tesla owner stated the following which I believe to be true:

This may come to the dismay of “gearheads”, but electric drive trains spell the end of tinkering in the garage the same way that transistors mostly did away with the TV repairman.

Zing... right over your heads... I was not talking about "platform volume", I was talking about sales volume. Because the so-called electric car revolution still has no legs when it comes to public demand... you know... actual customers who are clamoring to step up and buy these toys.

Zing... right over your heads... I was not talking about "platform volume", I was talking about sales volume. Because the so-called electric car revolution still has no legs when it comes to public demand... you know... actual customers who are clamoring to step up and buy these toys.

Nope did not go over our heads, Beetle is not selling in huge volumes and is a perfect ev auto for inner city driving. Should do just fine as a sales volume ev.

Similar Content

The U.S. Security and Exchange Commission has filed suit in San Francisco on Thursday alleging that from April 2014 through May 2015, Volkswagen fraudulently issued more than $13 Billion in bonds and securities in the U.S. market. During that time, the SEC alleges that Winterkorn and other senior management knew about the problem with over 500,000 diesel vehicles that exceeded legal emissions limits.
The suit says:
Winterkorn resigned within days of the scandal braking in 2015.
Volkswagen said in a statement that the lawsuit is "legally and facturally flawed" and "the company will contest it vigorously".
Volkswagen has already agreed to pay more than $25 billion in a settlement over the dieselgate scandal to buy back defective vehicles, paying fines, and setting up funds to help build out electric vehicle infrastructure. Winterkorn has already been charged in the US.

The U.S. Security and Exchange Commission has filed suit in San Francisco on Thursday alleging that from April 2014 through May 2015, Volkswagen fraudulently issued more than $13 Billion in bonds and securities in the U.S. market. During that time, the SEC alleges that Winterkorn and other senior management knew about the problem with over 500,000 diesel vehicles that exceeded legal emissions limits.
The suit says:
Winterkorn resigned within days of the scandal braking in 2015.
Volkswagen said in a statement that the lawsuit is "legally and facturally flawed" and "the company will contest it vigorously".
Volkswagen has already agreed to pay more than $25 billion in a settlement over the dieselgate scandal to buy back defective vehicles, paying fines, and setting up funds to help build out electric vehicle infrastructure. Winterkorn has already been charged in the US.

Herick Fisker is back again after his original company succumbed to bankruptcy in 2014. Now as Fisker, Inc., the latest vehicle he is showing is an electric crossover concept. While we have a picture, the technical details are light.
The EV will be priced near $40,000 and have a 300 mile range. Powered by an 80 kWh enhanced lithium-ion battery, there will be rear-motor rear wheel drive and optional dual motor all wheel drive available.
Fisker is planning on the not-yet-named SUV in late 2021, just about a year after the Tesla Model Y is due to hit the market. Fisker is planning on a Telsa-Like online only sales model with "nationwide concierge service".

Herick Fisker is back again after his original company succumbed to bankruptcy in 2014. Now as Fisker, Inc., the latest vehicle he is showing is an electric crossover concept. While we have a picture, the technical details are light.
The EV will be priced near $40,000 and have a 300 mile range. Powered by an 80 kWh enhanced lithium-ion battery, there will be rear-motor rear wheel drive and optional dual motor all wheel drive available.
Fisker is planning on the not-yet-named SUV in late 2021, just about a year after the Tesla Model Y is due to hit the market. Fisker is planning on a Telsa-Like online only sales model with "nationwide concierge service".

Tesla unveiled their newest addition to their lineup, the Tesla Model Y, last night at an event in Los Angeles.
The Model Y is a crossover based on the Model 3 platform but is large enough to carry 7 adults. Inside, the high seating and panoramic roof lend a feeling of spaciousness. A front trunk and split folding second-row seats provide a total 66 cubic feet of storage. Like on the Model 3, accessing the Model Y works from a connection to the driver's smartphone. The Tesla Mobile App connects to features like remote door lock, Summon, remote pre-conditioning, location tracking, and more. Tesla has built the Model Y to be the safest mid-size SUV with rigid body structure and large crumple zone.
The Model Y will come in 4 powertrain variants. The Standard Range version will start at $39,000 plus $1,200 delivery charge. It will also be offered in Long Range, Dual-Motor All-Wheel Drive, and Performance. The highest performance Model Y will have a 0-60 of 3.5 second and a top speed of 150 mph. Standard Range battery will offer 230 miles of range while the Long Range version will offer 300 miles on a full charge.

Deliveries of the Performance, Long Range, and Dual-Motor models will begin in Fall of 2020 while the Standard Range will begin deliveries in Spring of 2021.